SUBMISSION FROM THE CALVINISTIC POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ASSOCIATION(CPSA) on FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF IN THE 21st CENTURY
Preamble
The Constitution of Australia has its roots in the Christian religion whilethe civil laws of Australia were based on the Ten Laws or Commandments of God laid out for His people in the Bible’s Old Testament. To the extent that they areadhered to and promoted, these commandments (and the Australian civil laws based on them)encourage a just, peaceful society.
While Australia enjoys this rich heritage, sadly the increasing denial of God and, consequently,moral absolutes through the promotion of Darwinism, existentialism and post modern ideologies by the media, the courts and the education sector, has led to a great increase in immorality and offensive behaviour. It is imperative that the Australian Government continues to acknowledge the Christian principles on which our nation was established, and allow its citizens the freedom to continue to practise religion peacefully.
The founders of the Australian Constitution clearly enshrined principles to govern the Commonwealth of the States and not only made clear the freedom of religion in Section 116 of the Constitution, but started with the fundamental principles on which the constitution is founded within the preamble itself. John Quick and Robert Garran made clear in the Annotated Constitution of the Australian, written in 1901, that the purpose of the Preamble was to declare:
1.the agreement of the people of Australia;
2.their reliance on the blessing of Almighty God;
3.the purpose to unite;
4.the character of the union – indissoluble;
5.the form of the union – a FederalCommonwealth;
6.the dependence of the union – under the Crown;
7.the government of the union under the Constitution; and
8.the expediency of provision for admission of other colonies as States.
Such was the belief of the founding fathers in the blessing of Almighty God that this was placed into the preamble to the constitution. Our founding fathers recognised their reliance on the blessing of Almighty God.
We do well to be very cautious if we wish to redefine the intent of the founding fathers as found in the Constitution in relation to Section 116. Rather than redefining Section 116 we need to remain on the basis on which this nation stands, that is a belief in, and reliance on, the blessing of Almighty God.
The CPSA says this in light also of what great international figures have said about our need to continue to recognise our reliance on and subservience to our God. For example, the great Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky said in 1880, “If there is no God, then everything is permissible.”George Washington famously proclaimed, “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of God, to obey His will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favours” (Thanksgiving Proclamation, 3 October 1789).
As a more recent president (Ronald Reagan) said, “Without God there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience…without God there isa coarsening of the society, without God democracy will not, and cannot, long endure…If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under” (1984).We in Australia must take these profound observations to heart if we are to enjoy God’s blessings, so essential for peace, prosperity and happiness. It is not Section 116 that is so much under threat, rather it is the very fabric of the principle basis of the community.
In determining what should and should not be legislated, also in the area of human rights, our society and government need to remain consistent with the Christian principles upon which our great nation was built. Without these standards as a basis, decisions will be unreliable and will lead to tyranny, rather than extra freedomfor those who want to be faithful to God. What is legislated as human rights and freedom actually often has the opposite effect by restricting human rights and freedom.
INTRODUCTION
As a Christian organisation affiliated with the Free Reformed Churches of Australia, the Calvinistic Political and Social Association (CPSA) is concerned with any changes in Australian laws which undermine the very fabric of our Australian society. The CPSA provides advice and leadership on social and political issues to the members of the nine Free Reformed Churches in WA (Perth metropolitan area & Bunbury), who together with other Free Reformed Churches across Australia have a membership approaching 4000 which have instituted and continue to maintain seven John Calvin Schools.
The objective and aim of the CPSA is not only to safeguard Christians’ ability to worship God freely, but also to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy the political and social freedoms that this country has offered Christians. To this end we urge those undertaking this inquiry to respect what was established by Australia’s founding Christian fathers.
In writing this submission we have chosen to develop some fundamental points that are drawn out in the Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century Discussion Paper. As such we have not answered all the recommendations posed in the paper. In providing our feedback we draw heavily on the Bible, which is the living Word of God, and documents that reflect what is contained in the Bible. We strongly believe that God provides for us, Christian and non-Christian alike, a practical example of how we need to live our lives.
What follows is the CPSA’s response to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2008 “Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century”.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1: Evaluation of 1998 HREOC Report on Article 18: Freedom of Religion and Belief
2: Religion and the State – the Constitution, roles and responsibilities
3: Religion and the State - practice and expression
4: Security issues in the aftermath of September 11
5: The interface of religious, political and cultural aspirations
6: Technology and its implications
7: Religion, cultural expression and human rights
1: Evaluation of 1998 HREOC Report on Article 18: Freedom of Religion and Belief
Western civilisation has its roots in the Christian religion which holds the Bible to be the Word of God and knows God to be the creator of the universe. The promotion of the theory of evolution, existentialist and post-modern theories, and atheism have, particularly in recent decades, worked to devalue Christianity.
This has led to attacks, particularly by some minority lobby groups, on the values, beliefs and norms based on the Bible and a moving away from fixed principles of law and morality to norms and values based on political expediency and contextual experiences.
The CPSA is concerned about the development of a string of “human rights” influenced by minority groups in the community which promote forms of behaviour that are contrary to the Christian basis of our nation.If legislated, these changes will enable Christians to be taken to court on the spurious grounds that what theybelieve and confess offends particular groups or individuals and is not compatible with new “human rights” legislation. Such legislation has led to maltreatment of Christians in Canada (The Christian Heritage Party, Rev Stephen Boisson, Dr Chris Kempling and others) who were taken to court simply for expressing what God says in His Word, the Bible.
The CPSA does not believe that “the Commonwealth Parliament should enact a Religious Freedom Act” as is proposed in the Commission’s Discussion Paper. On the contrary, the CPSA sees the establishment of such an Act as providing further opportunities for attacking Christians. Just as courts discriminate between right and wrong on the basis of civil law, so Christians must be allowed to discriminate between right and wrong on the basis of God’s Holy Law. Christian institutions must be free to exclude those who do not subscribe to the Christian values upheld by the institution and must be allowed to employ specifically (and only) those who subscribe to the same Christian values.
2: Religion and the State – the Constitution, roles and responsibilities
The Constitution
Although the Australian Constitution is tied to the Christian religion (as is shown in the preamble’s phrase “Whereas the people…. humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God), Section 116 adequately provides for the “free exercise of any religion”. The Constitution, though rooted in the Christian religion, also provides adherents of other religions the freedom to exercise that religion in their worship and expression.
However, where there is a conflict between the norms of other religions and the Christian religion, as they relate to public life, the values of the latter has historically prevailed and should continue to prevail. Immigrants coming into Australia should be told that Australia is a nation built on Christian principles and that, while it provides freedom to adherents of other religions, it has civil laws and values based on the Christian religion. By choosing to come to Australia they are obligated to abide by its laws.
Responding to question 4 of this section “Religion and the State” of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Discussion Paper, the CPSA does not see any evidence of “religious or faith-based groups” having “undue influence over government” but does believe that the government will “have undue influence over religious or faith-based groups” if a national Charter of Rights were to be legislated.
Moreover, the CPSA fears that Christians’ freedom to speak the will of Godwill be taken away by the Commission because the Commission was established under UN treaty in conformity with the “United Nations declaration for the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religious Belief 1981”. In effect this means that what the Australian people established in their Constitution is taken away through the establishment of a treaty with the United Nations.
Roles and responsibilities
The CPSA believes the role of the Government is clearly shown in the Bible and is outlined in various confessions of ChristianChurches which have provided the foundation of our faith for hundreds of years. For example article 36 of the Belgic Confession of Faith (1561), says:
We believe that, because of the depravity of mankind, our gracious God has ordained kings, princes, and civil officers.1 He wants the world to be governed by laws and policies,2 in order that the licentiousness of men be restrained and that everything be conducted among them in good order.3 For that purpose He has placed the sword in the hand of the government to punish wrongdoers and to protect those who do what is good (Rom 13:4). Their task of restraining and sustaining is not limited to the public order but includes the protection of the church and its ministry in order that the kingdom of Christ may come, the Word of the gospel may be preached everywhere,4 and God may be honoured and served by everyone, as He requires in His Word.
Moreover, everyone - no matter of what quality, condition, or rank - ought to be subject to the civil officers, pay taxes, hold them in honour and respect, and obey them in all things5 which do not disagree with the Word of God.6 We ought to pray for them, that God may direct them in all their ways and that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way (1 Tim 2:1, 2).
Reading this confession and the Bible texts on which it is based, the CPSA does not condone any organisation or individual that rejects the authorities and civil officers, undermines the law,7orundermines the decent way in which we are to interact with each other. While contemporary language is not used in all of the confessions, the message is as relevant today as when they were first written.
1Prov 8:15; Dan 2:21; Jn 19:11; Rom 13:1.2Ex 18:20.3Deut 1:16; Deut 16:19; Judg 21:25; Ps 82; Jer 21:12; Jer 22:3; 1 Pet 2:13, 14.4Ps 2; Rom 13:4a; 1 Tim 2:1-4.5Mt 17:27; Mt 22:21; Rom 13:7; Tit 3:1; 1 Pet 2:17.6Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29.72 Pet 2:10; Jude 8.
3: Religion and the State - practice and expression
ChristianSchools.
Many Christian parents have established ChristianSchools around Australiaso that these parentscan have their children educated in accordance with God’s Word, the Bible. They recognise that, as well as providing their children with knowledge of God, theyshould also gain various skills, knowledge and understandings of a range of subjects. Thereby childrenlearn to promote the honour of God and to care about the well-being ofAustralia and its people. These Christians wish to promote a God-honouring culture in their children and to reflect Christian virtues such as “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galations 5:22, 23).
The CPSA believes that the Government must recognise the positive contribution that ChristianSchools make toward Australia and the promotion of wholesome Australian values.Therefore it urgesthe Government to continue to support Christian schools.
Christian schools should have the freedom to identify societal developments, views or practices which are or are not in accordance with God’s Word, and to educate the students about them so that the students learn to discern between right and wrong, between that which is wholesome and that which is not wholesome.
To carry out this mission, Christian schools and other Christian institutions must be free to restrict membership and staff to those who subscribe to the Christian standards as required in the constitutions of these institutions.
General religious practices
People in Australia are free to hold, and to give expression to, different religions provided that they do not disrupt, through violent or immoral behaviour, the peace, law and order in society. People should be free to express publicly their comments or criticisms about aspects of society without fear of persecution. People should not be free, however, to inculcate attitudes and values intended to physically harm others.
4: Security issues in the aftermath of September 11
The government should formulate policiesthat prevent immigrants from posing a threat to our Australian society. For example, such a threat could occur by allowing a large influx of immigrants who are seeking to supplant the Christian basis of our culture with another. It should also prevent the introduction of vilification laws which can be used by people with unchristian beliefs or morals to persecute Christians.
5: The interface of religious, political and cultural aspirations
“Gender equality”
God created everyone equal. He also gave men and women different roles. These roles, though different, have equal status.
When God created Adam and Eve and said they should become one flesh, literally and figuratively, He showed that marriage consists of a unity between one man and one woman. There have been overtures by Muslims (e.g. Rahim Ghauri as reported in The West Australian newspaper July 10 2008) seeking to allow for men to have multiple wives.While there are examples of polygamy in early world history, when Jesus Christ came he made it clear that marriage was to be between two people, a male and female.
God also forbids people to practise homosexual relations. Hence the Government runs counter to the Christian principles upon which our nation was established if it condones such practices by legislating to grant homosexuals “equal rights” with heterosexual relations.
The right to religious freedom includes the right to determine, on the basis of the religion to which one adheres, the gender relationships irrespective of whether or not the ‘changing values of society’ adhere to those values.
Commonwealth legislation should not be married to United Nations prescriptions.
6: Technology and its implications
The media should be regulated to prevent it promoting—both through its entertainment, expositions and advertising—values and attitudes such as pornography, violence and other immoralpractices.
7: Religion, cultural expression and human rights
Because of the way in which God teaches us to live, expressed in the Holy Bible and displayed in the Australian constitution and laws, the CPSA is concerned about any suggestion that Christian organisations should condone the practice of homosexuality or other sexual practices which are not in accordance with Christian values. For people who struggle with such weaknesses, the CPSA believes that the Christian church shouldcontinue to have the right to expound the clear norms of God’s Word also in such matters as sexual activities including homosexual practices.
The CPSA also is concerned with the suggestion expressed in the Commission’s Discussion Paper that religious organisations such as schools and other service delivery agencies should not be able to exclude people from employment because of their sexuality or sex and gender identity. Religious organisations must be left free to decide, on the basis of their religious convictions, who to employ. Legislating to prevent this would be a grave error and highly irresponsible act by the Government.
The CPSA encourages the Government and the Commission not to bow to pressure groups which seek to enshrine unchristian practices into law and obligate Christians and Christian organisations to act against their consciences. Enshrining such practices into law would create for Christians a “culture of offence” against a Government-established string of politically correct ideas and behaviours that are forced upon the public. Christians must be free to adhere to the norms of God’s Word in their speech and actions and also in their choice of who to employ. Moreover, God requires the government itself to apply the norms of God’s Word in all its actions.